I can understand trying to "get on with your life", and I can understand feeling a little at a loss for how to respond (how about responding :"thank you for recognizing it"). but I think these two guys views are pretty uncharitable toward people who for the most part mean just what they are saying. (That is a charitable way of describing what I think is churlish behavior). The people who are saying this in 2015 for the most part really do mean "thank you", so if you don't want to be thanked- then don't let them know you were in. This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere . And in a volunteer Army it's pretty arrogant of this former SF guy to blather about the Civilians saying thank you out of guilt. This guy's skin is in the game because he put it in the game. What I read in the is that he wants to subtly trumpet his service while disparaging anyone who actually has the temerity to intrude on "his" war?Sorry about the OP. Here is a link to the article I was trying to display. I completely understand this guys opinion on the matter and how he lost enthusiasm and now just wants to live his normal life.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/please-don’t-thank-me-for-my-service/ar-BBhPFEn?srcref=rss
Push Hard, Press Forward
This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere .
Well If you have an oval Sticker that says: "Iraq" and a military affiliation sticker, then yes you are in fact telling people that you are a vet- why else woud anyone have those stickers on there? I stand by my thoughts when I first ready this lame story- the 2 guys interviewed in this story are ill mannered jerks who would complain if given a free Sundae because the glass it was served in was the wrong shape. If they don't want to be thanked for their service- then it is easy to avoid that: DON"T tell people that they were in the service. And should people somehow divine that they once served- then thank them for their courtesy when they say something like "Thank you for your service".This guy isn't wearing a uniform and doesn't look like he is frequently mistaken for a Soldier out uniform so if people are thanking him it's because he is going out of his way to let them know that he is a vet- or else he is taking advantage of a deal somewhere .
I think you are assuming too much. No proof that he is letting people know that he is a vet or something else.
My car has a military affiliation tag since 2002 and small round sticker "IRQ." So am I advertising that I am a vet or taking advantage of a deal somewhere? I don't think so. After my daughter's sports game, I drove to a Panera. A mini-van was behind me. Call it my military training or whatever, but recognized the driver as inside the Panera as he passed me telling me "Thank You for your service." I was in my civilian clothes.
Well If you have an oval Sticker that says: "Iraq" and a military affiliation sticker, then yes you are in fact telling people that you are a vet- why else woud anyone have those stickers on there? I stand by my thoughts when I first ready this lame story- the 2 guys interviewed in this story are ill mannered jerks who would complain if given a free Sundae because the glass it was served in was the wrong shape. If they don't want to be thanked for their service- then it is easy to avoid that: DON"T tell people that they were in the service. And should people somehow divine that they once served- then thank them for their courtesy when they say something like "Thank you for your service".
So should I stop being polite because of that crank?